Putter training device

ABSTRACT

A putter training device has a putting green surrounded by a “hazard” . The putting green slants upwardly from the front edge of the device and is provided with a cup as a target for the golfer. If the ball is successfully putted into the cup, a channel extends from the cup, through the hazard, and to a ball return ramp on one side of the device. If the ball is hit beyond the putting green, the ball falls into the hazard and returns to the player via the ball return ramp.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to devices for allowing a golfer topractice putting.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Golfers spend much time away from the golf course trying toimprove the skills necessary to play well. One of the most basic skillsin golf is the ability to putt well. Unlike skills such as driving andchipping, putting can be practiced indoors in an enclosed space. Infact, it is possible to practice putting anywhere due to the shortdistances and low speeds inherent in putting.

[0003] The prior art is replete with devices enabling a golfer topractice putting skills. One such device is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,725,438 (Dennesen). Dennesen discloses a golf putting practice greenhaving a golf cup and a hazard. The practice device inclines up to thegolf cup and hazards. If the golf ball is putted correctly, the ballwill enter the cupand come to rest beneath a mat. An errantly hit ballmay enter one of the hazards, but will also come to rest beneath themat. A return mechanism is provided to move the ball through the cup tothe proximal end of the putting green.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 2,460,080 (Gerding) discloses an indoor practiceputting green having a central band positioned on carpet above recesses.A chute returns golf balls from the cup or band to the player.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,812 (Marsin) discloses a golf green to beinstalled in an area such as a desert or mound of sand. The green has acentral cylindrical cup and two compartments concentric with the cup.The cup and each compartment is formed with an inverted conical bottomterminating in a discharge opening. A conduit extends from each opening.

[0006] U.S. Pat. 5,505,451 (Brayshay) discloses a practice putting greenincluding three holes with a ball return track at the edges of thegreen. The green slants toward the return tracks.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] A putter training device has a putting green surrounded by a“hazard”. The putting green slants upwardly from the front edge of thedevice and is provided with a cup as a target for the golfer. If theball is successfully putted into the cup, a channel extends from thecup, through the hazard, and to a ball return ramp on one side of thedevice. If the ball is hit beyond the putting green, the ball falls intothe hazard and returns to the player via the ball return ramp.

[0008] It is an object of the invention to provide a putting trainingdevice having a putting green with a cup and a hazard.

[0009] It is another object of the invention to have a putting greenseparated from a hazard by a ridge, the hazard located lower than theputting green.

[0010] It is yet another object of the invention to provide a puttingtraining device that returns the ball to the user if it goes into a cupor into a hazard.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide a putting greenwith a ball return ramp for returning the ball to the user.

[0012] It still another object of the invention to provide a puttingtraining device that may be used at any location.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide a puttingtraining device that is inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

[0014] In accordance with the teachings of this invention there isprovided a putting training device which comprises a playing surfacehaving a front edge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge. Theplaying surface has a first section and a second section joined along aridge, a cup in said first section, and an exit in said second section,said exit being at a lowermost point of said second section.

[0015] In another aspect of this invention there is provided puttingtraining device which comprises a playing surface having a front edge, arear edge, a left edge and a right edge. The playing surface has a firstsection and a second section joined along a ridge. There is a cup in thefirst section, and means are provided for returning a ball to a user.

[0016] In yet a further aspect of this invention there is provide themethod of using a putting training device which comprises the steps of:providing a playing surface having a front edge, a rear edge, a leftedge and a right edge, and in which the playing surface having a firstsection and a second section joined along a ridge, inclining the playingsurface from said front edge to said ridge, forming a cup in said firstsection, forming an exit in said second section, said exit being at alowermost point of said second section, and hitting a ball up saidinclined playing surface.

[0017] These and other objects of the invention will be apparent to oneof ordinary skill in the art after reviewing the disclosure of theinvention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a top view of the putting training device; and

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the putting training device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] Putting training device 10 is depicted in FIG. 1. The trainingdevice is bounded by a left edge 12, right edge 14, front edge 16 andrear edge 18. The surface is split between a first section 30 forming aputting green and a second section 40 forming a “hazard”. The firstsection and second section are separated by a bell-shaped ridge 36. Aball return 20 is attached to the left edge 12 and forms the left edge22 of the entire device 10. The first section is provided with a cup 34.

[0021] The perspective view of the putting training device 10 gives aclearer view of the device and its operation. As can be seen, the firstsection 30 slopes from the front edge 16 to the bell-shaped ridge 36.The hazard or the second section 40 has a wall 46 extending downwardlyfrom the ridge to create the second section which is below the firstsection. Therefore, if the user hits the golf ball too hard, the ballwill fall over the ridge into the hazard. If the ball is successfullyhit into the cup 34, an opening 38 at the side of the cup leads to achannel 42. The channel 42 leads to an opening 44 in the side wall 12.The ball follows the channel 42 through the opening 44 and into the ballreturn 20. The second section 40 is sloped so that both the secondsection and the channel 42 slope toward the opening 44. This allows theball to consistently enter the ball return 20. The channel 42 has anarcuate surface to guide the ball toward the opening.

[0022] While the invention has been described with reference to apreferred embodiment, variations and modifications would be apparent toone of ordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses suchvariations and modifications and is defined by the appended claims.

1. A putting training device comprising: a playing surface having afront edge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge, said playingsurface having a first section and a second section joined along aridge, a cup in said first section, and an exit in said second section,said exit being at a lowermost point of said second section.
 2. Theputting device of claim 1, wherein said exit is in said left side. 3.The putting device of claim 2, further comprising a ball returnextending along the left side of the playing surface.
 4. The puttingdevice of claim 3, wherein said ball return comprises a ball returnextending along the left side of the playing surface.
 5. The puttingdevice of claim 1, wherein said first section slopes upwardly from saidfront edge to said ridge.
 6. The putting device of claim 1, furthercomprising a aperture extending from said cup to said second section. 7.The putting device of claim 6, further comprising a channel in saidsecond section extending from said aperture to said exit.
 8. The puttingdevice of claim 7, wherein said channel is arcuate.
 9. The puttingdevice of claim 1, wherein said exit is an opening in said left side.10. The putting device of claim 1, wherein said ridge is bell shaped.11. A putting training device comprising: a playing surface having afront edge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge, said playingsurface having a first section and a second section joined along aridge, a cup in said first section, and means for returning a ball to auser.
 12. The putting training device of claim 11, wherein said meansfor returning a ball to a user comprises a ball return extending alongthe left side of the playing surface.
 13. The putting training device ofclaim 12, wherein said means for returning a ball to the user furthercomprises an aperture extending from said cup to said second section.14. The putting training device of claim 13, wherein said means forreturning a ball to the user further comprises a channel in said secondsection extending from said aperture to said ball return.
 15. Theputting training device of claim 14, wherein said channel is arcuate.16. The putting training device of claim 15, wherein said channel leadsto an opening in said left wall
 17. The putting training device of claim11, wherein said ridge is bell shaped.
 18. A method of using a puttingtraining device comprising: providing a playing surface having a frontedge, a rear edge, a left edge and a right edge, said playing surfacehaving a first section and a second section joined along a ridge,inclining the playing surface from said front edge to said ridge,forming a cup in said first section, forming an exit in said secondsection, said exit being at a lowermost point of said second section,and hitting a ball up said inclined playing surface.
 19. The method ofclaim 18, further comprising returning the ball to a user comprises aball return extending along the left side of the playing surface. 20.The method of claim 19, further comprising returning the ball to theuser via an inclined ramp.
 21. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising forming an aperture in said cup leading to said secondsection.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising forming achannel in said second section from said aperture to said exit.